The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-02-03
GOVERNOR L. S. ROSS, OF TEXAS.
From the New Orleans Picayune.


From the New Orleans Picayune.
The Geographic report of the civic ant
military demonstration at the inaugura
ton of General Ross, "being the grandest
since the days of Sam Houston" calls uI
"reminiscences of the gallant gentleman.
His department in private life was most
honorable, and his military history has
been untarnished and brilliant in the high.
est degree.
In the Confederate army he won for
himself a conspicuous position early in
the struggle. and maintained it with in
creasing renown until the close of the
war.
Colonel George Norman, now in this
city, but during the war an officer in the
adiutant generals department, furnishes
some interesting information concerning
the new governor as soldier. General
Ross is not born southerner, but a native
of Iowa. He has, however, been in Texas
the greater portion of his life, and 70 man
in the state was more devoted to it and to
the south in the civil war.
Col. Norman, upon being interviewed
said: Gen. Ross came out with the Sixth
Texas cavalry, of which the late United
States Marshal, Jack Wharton, was major
and afterward colonel.
Many night in the somber swamps of
the Big Black, and around Vickburg, and
in the beautiful woods around Franklin
and Columbia, Tenn, this inimitable hu
morist and story teller would entertain
his hearers with anecdotes until the circle
at his own camp fire would be reinforced
by nearly the entire command, making
an immense congregation of listeners,
and no one there enjoyed his stories, or
laughed more heartily than Gen. Ross.
The command was largely composed of
frontiersmen, rough and daring, and was
at one time falsely accused of being a
band of desperadoes and pillagers and
lacking in discipline, but notably reckless
and brave; but with very few exceptions
this was entirely undeserved. That ele-
CANT, quiet looking and handsome little
general commanded that band of heroic
Texans by two of the strongest senti-
ment which control mankind-love and
fear. He was their idol; and yet they
knew that single transgression would
bring down the mailed hand of discip
line upon their devoted heads.
Under his leadership Ross Texas
brigade embellished the history of the
war with its exploits upon many bloody
field, from the commencement of the
struggle until the Confederate banner was
furled at Gainesville, Alabama.
Colonel Norman was the adjutant-
general of Jackson's division for long
period, in which Ross brigade served
with so much distinction, and says that
during those days of war and exposure,
the young general looked wonderfully
fresh and fair, with the face of woman,
but possessed of the courage of lion.
No danger was too great, 10 adventure
too rash, no demonstration against the
enemy too hazardous for him. He was
always ready and sought the post of peril
for the double reason that his patriotism
prompted him to offer himself for his
country, and his honorable ambition dom
mated over any sense of fear.
The following army order compliment
airy to General Ross, issued through Col
onel Norman during the war and pre-
served by him, speaks the praise of the
gallant soldier:
HDQRs. JAcKsoE's CAvALBY DIVISION,
Clinton, Miss, Dec. 16, 1868.
General Orders No. 20.
l. Col. L. s. Ross, Sixth regiment Texas